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The one-alarm fire, believed to be electrical, was reported at 6:30 a.m. at the home in a neighborhood northwest of the downtown area.

Her husband, Jesse Sondovar, 81, made it out of the house. Officials said he had been ill and was sleeping in a room with a hospital bed. The fire is believed to have started in that room, officials said.

His wife was sleeping in a bedroom, and she could have gotten out, but she was overwhelmed by flames in the kitchen, officials said.

They noted that it appeared she bypassed an escape exit in the home to reach her husband.

The couple had lived about 50 years in the area and they were very active in neighborhood crime watch programs, officials said.